Daniel Weizmann

Daniel Weizmann (born 1957 in Israel and grew up in Los Angeles) - a Los Angeles-based American author, journalist, and editor best known for his “rock noir” mystery series and his deep roots in the L.A. punk scene. He spent 8 years living in Israel as well, before returning to the US. His Pacific Coast Highway Mystery Series (2 volumes so far, more in development) features Adam Zantz, a Lyft driver and failed songwriter who uses his obsession with song lyrics to solve crimes. Zantz is described as having a secular Jewish identity, and the series is set largely within the Los Angeles Jewish Community. The dialogue is frequently peppered with Jewish expressions, slang, and a “rich seam of gentle Jewish humor” that is self-deprecating but life-affirming. Weizmann draws inspiration from classic Jewish “schlemiel” characters found in the works of authors like Saul Bellow and Isaac Babel. He is described as having a “soft-boiled” noir style.

In Cinnamon Girl, Zantz undertakes to help his Holocaust survivor piano teacher and mentor to clear the name of his son, falsely accused of murder. The narrative is frequently peppered with Yiddishisms (such as noodnik and schmuck) and features supporting characters like Ephraim “Double Fry” Freiberger, a photographer who wears a Grateful Dead yarmulke and studies Torah on his boat, “The Shechinah”. Adam Zantz continues to embody the ”schlemiel”—a classic Jewish literary figure characterized by bad luck and awkwardness, but possessing a strong moral core. The book explores themes of redemption, the importance of family legacy, and a deep respect for elders within a tight-knit Jewish community. [Google/AI]

Weizmann, Daniel, [Adam Zantz #1] (The Last Songbird [pb, Melville House, 2023]) 978-1685890308

Weizmann, Daniel, [Adam Zantz #2] (Cinnamon Girl [pb, Melville House, 2024]) 978-1685891152